Symantec AMS Intel Alert Handler Modem String Parsing Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

January 27th, 2011
ZDI-11-030 ZDI-CAN-530

CVE ID

CVE-2010-0111

CVSS Score

10.0 AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected Vendors

Symantec

Affected Products

Alert Management System

Vulnerability Details

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Symantec Alert Management System. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the pagehndl.dll module while processing data sent from the msgsys.exe process which listens by default on TCP port 38292. The DLL allocates a fixed length stack buffer and subsequently copies a user-supplied modem string without validating the size. By supplying a large enough value this buffer can be overflowed leading to arbitrary code execution under the context of the vulnerable daemon.

Additional Details

Symantec has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory&pvid=security_advisory&year=2011&suid=20110126_00

Disclosure Timeline

  • 2009-07-14 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2011-01-27 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

Anonymous

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